Weighty Agruments

It’s no secret the 49ers have plunged to the bottom of the standings in wins and in offensive efficiency since their last playoff appearance in 2002. But what explains this downturn? There’s the obvious – three coaching changes, lack of consistent quarterbacking, the abrupt and drastic change in ownership philosophy from the profligate Eddie DeBartolo Jr. to the Anti-Eddie, brother-in-law John York.

But another less obvious force might be dragging the team down – it’s gotten too big, most especially, on the offensive line. Slender offensive lines and winning percentage are typically intertwined. Consider from 1980 through 2004, the two teams with the lightest lines over that period – the Broncos and 49ers – also won the most games. Over that same stretch, the teams with the five lightest lines all had won more than they had lost.

The five heaviest lines lost more than they won with the exception of the Raiders.

In the last five years, the 49ers have completely changed their philosophy from the winning ways established by late offensive line coach Bobb McKittrick. He favored light lines where guards pulled to lead traps, counters and sweeps. Later, Denver’s offensive line coach, Alex Gibbs, established the zone-blocking running game, which like McKittrick’s scheme, emphasized lateral as opposed to vertical runs.

But lately, the 49ers have ditched the light offensive lineman for the massive one. Last year they didn’t re-sign the relatively trim Justin Smiley, even though he never yielded a sack in 2006 (he was injured for most of last year and then signed with Miami).

This season, the 49ers’ line will average 323.2 pounds and that’s without Larry Allen for the fourth heaviest line in the league. It puts them up there with traditional heavy offensive-line teams like Detroit and Arizona, and we all know how well they’ve done.

The lightest teams since 2004? Indianapolis, New England and Denver are up there or down there depending on one’s point of view. And we all know how they’ve done, particularly the Colts and Patriots. Exceptions exist. Atlanta has been on the light side over the last three seasons, and the Eagles have been among the heaviest.

But there’s no question the 49ers added loses when their line added pounds.